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Background and education

Ayalon was born in Tiberias, Israel in 1945. He received a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from Bar Ilan University in 1980 and an M.A. in Public Administration from Harvard University in 1992.[1]

Naval Career

According to a biographical note on the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs website:

Ayalon served his entire military service in the Israel Navy, from his enlistment in 1963, volunteering for the navy commando unit. In 1969, Ayalon was decorated with the Medal of Valor, Israel's highest award. In 1979, Ayalon was appointed commander of the navy commando. Receiving the rank of admiral, he served as commander of the Israel Navy from 1992-1996.[2]

Shin Bet

According to Tanya Reinhart, Ayalon was one of a number of senior intelligence officers who supported the Oslo peace process.[4]

Politics

According to a biographical note on the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs website:

A Member of Knesset since April 2006, he served as a member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs & Defense, Ethics, State Control, Labor, Welfare, & Health, and Foreign Workers committees. Ami Ayalon served as Minister without Portfolio from September 2007 until March 2009.[5]

Med Bridge

Ayalon is co-founder with Palestinian Sari Nusseibeh of the People's Voice peace initiative, which calls for the establishment of a de-militarised Palestinian state on Israel's 1967 borders.[6]